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19 May 2013

PureMichiganGenealogy

"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you" is the Michigan state motto and I imagine my ancestors who immigrated from foreign lands coming to Michigan and seeing the beauty that I see when I look at my home state. Clear blue lakes and rivers, rock structures and mountains, sandy beaches and dunes, and more are what Michigan had to offer the first immigrants.

Before 1837, when Michigan became a state, Native Americans were the very first inhabitants. Next, came the French, who were the earliest missionaries in the area. Then, the British arrived as a result of the expansion of the British Empire. Eventually, others realized what great opportunities Michigan offered.

Three rivers were important to the early settlement of Michigan. The Clinton River Valley saw the settlement at Mt. Clemens, Pontiac, and Rochester. Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti were formed along the Huron River. Monroe, Tecumseh, and Adrian were settled along the Raisin River. All three of these areas form a circle around Detroit.

The early Michigan pioneers migrated from New York and the New England area, settling in the Michigan Territory from 1830-1837. Michigan became attractive to the early settlers because traveling to the territory became easier. Originally, the only mode of transportation was by horseback or wagon train, which was a long and treacherous trip. Steamship travel on Lake Erie became available, too. The completion of the Erie Canal, in 1825, made migrating easier for New Englanders. Road construction from Ohio to Detroit and Chicago allowed settlers to arrive that way. Plus, land offices were opened in Monroe and Detroit. These factors helped draw settlers to the territory. 140,000 pioneers came to the Michigan Territory from 1830-1837. New York, Ohio, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts were the top five states early settlers migrated from.

Fertile land, forests, and mines were all available for early immigrants to develop. Agriculture was the main economy. Michigan's early history was rich in industrial development, much as it is today. Iron mining helped the manufacturing of stoves, steam engines and farm implements. The Soo Locks and Railroads helped to grow Michigan's economy. Copper mining was a draw as well as the lumber industry. Later, automobile, chemical, and cereal manufacturing made Michigan a place to migrate to.

Foreign immigrants came from many countries to make Michigan a true melting pot. Michigan was made the state it is today from the many immigrants who traveled from their homeland during the years 1837-1924.

I will discuss the push (reasons for leaving their homeland) and the pull (reasons to immigrate to Michigan) factors by country. The below countries are where the greatest number of immigrants came to Michigan from.

1. CanadaPush

Political refugees from a 1837-1838 revolt.

Depression of the timber and shipbuilding industries

Pull

Military, agricultural, economic, and industrial opportunities after the civil war

Michigan's close proximity to Canada provided a fresh start for some

Advertisement for M. H. Allardt, Michigan Commissioner of Emigration who was sent to Germany and set up an office in Hamburg. Allardt published an eight-page magazine promoting Michigan to the Germans.

2. Germany

Push

Economic hardships, unemployment and crop failure

To avoid war and military service

German government encouraged the poor to emigrate

Pull

Fertile farmland

State of Michigan recruited immigrants

Established German settlements (see note)

Note: The first German immigrants came to Washtenaw County, in 1830, setting up missions. Two early missions were in Ann Arbor, 1833, and Frankenmuth, 1845. These missionaries wrote back to Germany and encouraged others to immigrate.

The Cornish brought pasties (pass-tees) to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

They were eaten by the miners and heated with a Cornish stove-

a candle under a shovel.

3. England/Cornish

Push

the dying copper mining industry in Cornwall, which is in southwest England. Once a great copper mining area.

Pull

copper and iron mines in the Keeweenaw Peninsula, in the Upper Peninsula, which today is known as "Copper Country"

4.Ireland

Push

Famine

Pull

a place to start new

improvement of existence

The Irish in Michigan worked in mining and construction of railroads and canals. They helped build the canal in Grand Rapids in 1835. Some Irish were known as pack-peddlers. Merchants from Northern Ireland traveled rural areas selling fine table and bed linens.

5. Netherlands

Push

Religious upheaval in Netherlands

King William I tight control over the Reformed Church

Economic depression

Pull

Religious freedom

Improvement of existence

Economic opportunities in furniture industry, utilities and finance

6. Finland, Sweden, Norway

Push

Lack of suitable farmland

End of the guild system led to more urban centers

Change from rural to industrial system

Left to escape parental control, military service, political or religious persecution

Pull

Availability of land

Economic opportunities with many Scandinavians working in the railroads, mining and furniture making.

7. Poland

Push

Failure of political revolts

Small land holdings

Low wages

High taxes

Pull

Labor, including railroad workers, sewer and water main workers, and street pavers. Later, for automobile and foundry.

8. Hungary

Push

Liberal revolts in 1848-1849

Peasants lack of economic success

Antisemitism led to immigration of Jews.

Pull

Labor opportunities in mining; lumbering; and sugar beet producing in the Thumb area of Michigan.

9. Italy

Push

Few economic opportunities

Pull

Manual labor and mining jobs

During the Post World War II era, Michigan saw an influx from the African American population. They came from the Southern United States and were looking to improve their economic circumstances. Many worked in the automobile and foundry factories.

Mexican immigration occurred around the same time. Many Hispanic Americans worked in the farm industry. Some were migrant workers and left for warmer climates in the winter months after all harvesting was done.

Michigan was hit hard during the manufacturing and economic crisis of a few years ago. For awhile Michigan was losing population. The past year or so, it has been more balanced, but not growing at this time. Michigan is still reliant on manufacturing, but strides have been made in recent years to diversify the economy.

There were some common bonds among the immigrants no matter what country they emigrated from. Many immigrants wrote home encouraging others to join them in Michigan. They came to Michigan looking for what we would now call the American Dream. They wanted a job, a home and something better for their children.

This post is the second post in a series of Pure Michigan Genealogy posts on researching your ancestors in Michigan. I am posting blog articles everyday this week, which is Michigan Week. Michigan Week is a time to celebrate the heritage of Michigan. To see the other posts, click on the post title below.

4
comments:

This is a fantastic summary of all the resources available for us to research our Michigan relatives. I especially was delighted to see the summary for the reasons for the push-pulls. It's nice to see it all summed up.

I grew up in MI and am looking forward to being with my family again and do some genealogy stuff too.

Thank you, Dorothy. I hope it helps you in your research. One of the reasons I wrote this was to organize the information in one place. I hope it helps others as it helped me when I wrote it. Good luck with your Michigan research.

Dear Barbara, If you are on Facebook, you could try posting questions on the Houghton Michigan Genealogy Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/264910143628749/. Someone local might be able to help you. Thank you for your kind words.

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